Collared - Baltimore Sun readers' pets

CaptionJack

Barbara Haddock Taylor, Baltimore Sun

Julia Southerland was ready for an exotic pet. It was 2002 and the 11-year-old already lived with three cats, two lizards and 10 fish, yet she found herself standing at Today's Pet in the Mall at Columbia looking at California king snakes.

Julia Southerland was ready for an exotic pet. It was 2002 and the 11-year-old already lived with three cats, two lizards and 10 fish, yet she found herself standing at Today's Pet in the Mall at Columbia looking at California king snakes. (Barbara Haddock Taylor, Baltimore Sun)

One bedecked with black and white rings caught her eye. She brought him home and named him Jack after the skeleton-like character in Tim Burton's "Nightmare Before Christmas." But Only a year after entering his new home, he disappeared. Southerland was devastated.

One bedecked with black and white rings caught her eye. She brought him home and named him Jack after the skeleton-like character in Tim Burton's "Nightmare Before Christmas." But Only a year after entering his new home, he disappeared. Southerland was devastated. (Barbara Haddock Taylor, Baltimore Sun photo)

"My dad kept telling me that he was going to be OK," said Southerland, of Columbia. "One day my mom was taking care of me when I was home sick and Jack was at the bottom of the stairs. He was literally on the floor ready to be found."

"My dad kept telling me that he was going to be OK," said Southerland, of Columbia. "One day my mom was taking care of me when I was home sick and Jack was at the bottom of the stairs. He was literally on the floor ready to be found." (Barbara Haddock Taylor, Baltimore Sun)

They cohabited harmoniously with Jack for years until Southerland was 16 and the family went on vacation to San Francisco when a now-much-bigger Jack escaped once again.

They cohabited harmoniously with Jack for years until Southerland was 16 and the family went on vacation to San Francisco when a now-much-bigger Jack escaped once again. (Barbara Haddock Taylor, Baltimore Sun photo)

"Our pet-sitting friend called in a panic to say she found the snake on the floor of our office," said Southerland, now a 23-year-old English student at University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

"Our pet-sitting friend called in a panic to say she found the snake on the floor of our office," said Southerland, now a 23-year-old English student at University of Maryland, Baltimore County. (Barbara Haddock Taylor, Baltimore Sun photo)

Read about local pets, or share your own story. We're interested in cats and dogs, but also hamsters, hedgehogs, turtles, horses, chickens -- the whole pet gamut. For more information, email pets@baltsun.com and be sure to put "Collared" in the subject line.